Austin fire responds to several homeless-related fires | FOX 7 Austin

Austin fire responds to several homeless-related fires

Austin firefighters had a busy weekend. They responded to several fires, some of them in homeless camps during cold temperatures.

Smoke was seen all over the Austin-area on Saturday evening. It was coming from a fire on Peacefull Hill Lane in South Austin. An abandoned 18-wheeler and piles of tires were on fire. 

Austin fire brought in a skid steer and drone to help fight the fire. AFD said the birds-eye view helped them figure out how large the fire was, how many resources were needed, and if any buildings nearby could be impacted.

Austin firefighters worked to put this fire out for about an hour.

On Sunday, another fire broke out in an area known to have homeless people off East Ben White Boulevard in East Austin. More tires were on fire, and it was spreading to grass and light brush.

Early Monday morning, Austin fire responded to a fire on the back porch and inside a two-story home on Hanbridge Lane in Southwest Austin. Flames could be seen through the roof. It took about an hour and a half for firefighters to knock out this fire.

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Photo courtesy: Austin Fire Department X

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"It only takes one spark, one spark can cause a wildfire," Texas A&M Forest Service Heather Gonzales said.

Gonzales said this cold weather makes it even more dangerous.

"With the cold weather, comes drier air, and also that can also lead to cured fuels, which is basically vegetation that has frozen and become cured, and it's basically dead vegetation that can't take in moisture anymore, and so vegetation like that can be more susceptible to ignitions because it's not holding on to any moisture that like vegetation would have," Gonzales said.

She said the number one cause of wildfires in Texas is unsafe debris burning.

Austin ranks fifth-highest metro in the country whose homes are at heighted risk levels, according to a 2024 wildfire risk report from CoreLogic.

"It's just really, really being cautious of your actions that can cause a spark and reducing those and being safe going about your outdoor activities," Gonzales said.

No injuries were reported in these fires.

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis

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